Third case of COVID-19 confirmed in Bonnyville area province’s map shows

A third case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in the Bonnyville area, the province’s virus infection map shows.

Last Friday, two cases were confirmed in Bonnyville, while a third case was later updated to a different area by Alberta Health on Saturday.

One case remains in the Cold Lake area.

In the Vermilion River County area, three confirmed cases of the virus have dropped to one.

On Wednesday, 61 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by chief medical officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the largest single-day increase so far, to a total of 419 cases.

Three more cases have been confirmed in the North Zone, which extends from just north of Edmonton to the provincial border.

• Calgary Zone: 250 cases
• Edmonton Zone: 100 cases
• Central Zone: 35 cases
• North Zone: 23 cases
• South Zone: 10 cases
• Unknown: 1 case

Additional measures will be taken at nursing homes, long-term care facilities, lodges, and select addiction treatment centres as there are nine cases within these facilities.

Penalties in place for breaking health orders

Premier Jason Kenney announced that a $1000 fine will be applied to those who are holding mass gatherings over 50 people, those who are found not self-isolating after travelling abroad, and those showing symptoms of COVID-19 and their close contacts.

Community peace officers, in addition to police, will be able to issue tickets to enforce COVID-19 public health orders.

Courts will also have increased powers to administer fines of up to $100,000 for a first offence and up to $500,000 for a subsequent offence for more serious violations, mainly to businesses or large gatherings, Minister of Health Tyler Shandro said on Wednesday.

These new fines will be in force over the coming days.

• Any individual who has travelled outside of Canada must go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from their return, plus an additional 10 days from the onset of any symptoms should they occur, whichever is longer.
• Any individual who exhibits COVID-19 symptoms must self-isolate for a minimum of 10 days from the start of their symptoms, or until the symptoms resolve, whichever is longer. Symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, or a sore throat.
• Any individual who has been identified by as a close contact of a person(s) with COVID-19 must go into mandatory self-isolation for 14 days from the date of last having been exposed to COVID-19, plus an additional 10 days from the onset of any symptoms should they occur, whichever is longer.
• Mass gatherings must be limited to no more than 50 attendees.
• Access to public recreational facilities, private entertainment facilities, bars and nightclubs is prohibited.
• Visitation to long-term care and other continuing care facilities is limited to essential visitors only.

The Government of Alberta and Alberta Health Services are working with local enforcement agencies to manage complaints, which can be submitted online.